Cable Trough System and Method

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications cable management system includes trough elements including a planar top surface and sides for cable routing and management. The trough elements are made from separate parts assembled together with a mating arrangement. The mating arrangement allows assembly of the system on site, such as by snapping the parts together. The trough elements are then assembled together to form the cable management system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a system for the management and routing of cables, such as telecommunications cables. More particularly, this invention pertains to troughs, fittings, and couplings for the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the telecommunications industry, the use of optical fibers for signal transmissions is accelerating. With the increased utilization of optical fiber systems, optical fiber cable management requires industry attention.

One area of optical fiber management that is necessary is the routing of optical fibers from one piece of equipment to another. For example, in a telecommunications facility, optical fiber cables may be routed between fiber distribution equipment and optical line terminating equipment. In buildings and other structures which carry such equipment, the cable routing can take place in concealed ceiling areas or in any other manner to route cables from one location to another. Copper cables, hybrid cables or other transmission cables also need proper management and protection.

When routing optical fibers, it is desirable that a routing system will be easy to assemble, readily accessible and adaptable to changes in equipment needs. Accordingly, such routing systems include a plurality of trough members such as troughs and couplings for forming the cable routing paths. The trough system members are joined together by couplings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,678 to Henneberger et al dated Nov. 26, 1991 concerns a cable routing system that includes a plurality of troughs and fittings. The '678 patent further discloses a coupling (element 250 in FIG. 1 of the '678 patent) for joining trough members and fittings. With best reference to FIGS. 6-7 of the '678 patent, a plurality of hardware is disclosed for joining the trough members. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,316,243; 5,752,781 and 6,715,719 show additional examples of couplings.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,875 shows a cable trough system with various separate components joined together to assemble the system.

Several concerns arise with cable routing systems, including the ease of manufacture and installation of the troughs, couplings, and fittings, and the adequacy of the size of the system components to handle the number of cables in the system. Having enough space for the cables passing through the system is a particular concern as higher and higher densities are desired. There is a need for continued development of cable management systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A telecommunications cable management system includes trough elements including a planar top surface and sides for cable routing and management. In one preferred embodiment, the trough elements are made from separate parts assembled together. In one preferred embodiment, a mating arrangement is used to assemble the parts together. The mating arrangement allows assembly of the system on site, such as by snapping the parts together. The trough elements are then assembled together to form the cable management system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a telecommunications cable management system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a longitudinal trough member of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the trough member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged portion of the mating arrangement between sections of the longitudinal trough member of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the view FIG. 4, showing the sections during the mating operation;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of one of the couplers of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the cross component of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cross component of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the cross component of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged portion of the view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the mating arrangement between two sections of the cross component;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the cross component of FIG. 7 showing two sections separated from the rest;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged portion of the view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of one of the sections of the cross component of FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view of the section of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the section of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the section of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a first side view of the section of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a further side view of the section of FIG. 14;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the Tee component of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is a first side view of the Tee component of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a further side view of the Tee component of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a top perspective view of the Tee component of FIG. 20 showing one section separated from the rest;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged portion of the view of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a top perspective view of the elbow component of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 26 is a top view of the elbow component of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the elbow component of FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a top perspective view of the reducer component of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 29 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a coupler;

FIG. 30 is a top perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a coupler;

FIG. 31 is a bottom perspective view of the coupler of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the coupler FIGS. 30 and 31;

FIG. 33 is a first bottom perspective view of one of the sections of the coupler of FIGS. 30 and 31;

FIG. 34 is a further bottom perspective view of the section of FIG. 33.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a cable management system with improved manufacturability and customization capabilities over prior art cable management systems. One aspect of the present invention is the use of sections which are assembled into trough components which are then assembled together to form the cable management system. Various components and configurations are anticipated in accordance with the present invention. Various examples of the components and configurations are illustrated in FIGS. 1-34. However, it is to be appreciated that numerous other components and configurations are possible.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 10 for cable management is positioned over a cabinet, a frame, bay or other equipment (not shown) which may include an array of connectors or other telecommunications equipment for connecting to the cables in system 10. System 10 is hung from the ceiling or mounted to the equipment, with various brackets and hardware.

Example system 10 includes various trough elements which together form cable pathways for holding and managing fiber optic cables. System 10 includes longitudinal trough members 14, and couplers 16 for joining the longitudinal trough members 14 to other trough elements including a cross component 18, a Tee component 20, an elbow component 22, and a reducer 24. System 10 can be expanded in various directions by adding further components 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. Other arrangements are possible for the noted components including arrangements that use less than all of the noted components, or additional components, as desired. For example, a cable exit trough can be added to allow cables to enter and exit the trough components for downward travel to equipment below trough components. U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,373, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, shows an example cable exit trough mountable to lateral trough member 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, longitudinal trough member 14 preferably has a continuous cross-section, and can be cut to the desired length L₁. Longitudinal trough member 14 is preferably by an extrusion process. As shown, longitudinal trough member 14 is made from separate sections assembled together to form longitudinal trough member 14. A mating arrangement 30 mounts the separate sides 32 to middle 34. In one preferred embodiment, the mating arrangement 30 includes a snap fit. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the snap fit between one of sides 32 and middle 34. As shown, mating arrangement 30 includes first and second pockets 38, 40, which receive first and second projections 44, 46, respectively. During assembly, first projection 44 is inserted into first pocket 38, and the side 32 is pivoted relative to middle 34 until second projection 46 is received in second pocket 40 to hold the side to the middle. (See FIGS. 4 and 5). First projection 44 has a bent shape which fits into first pocket 38 defined by base 39 and tab 41. Second projection 46 is flexible outward and includes a shoulder 47 which is positioned against shoulder 43 of second pocket 40. A similar mating arrangement 30 mounts the other side 32 to the other side of middle 34.

One advantage in assembling longitudinal trough member 14 from separate parts is that larger longitudinal trough members 14 can be made more easily than might be possible if the whole structure was made in a single extrusion. For example, making longitudinal trough member 14 in sizes over 12 inches across (see dimension W1 in FIGS. 2 and 3), including as much as 24 inches across or more, can be difficult to mold in a single part with an extrusion. Also, different sides 32 can be mated with different middles 34, as desired.

Longitudinal trough member 14 preferably includes structure on ends 50 for mating with other system components. As shown, longitudinal trough member 14 preferably includes attachment members 52 and pockets 54, for mating with couplers 16, as will be described below.

As shown, middle 34 of longitudinal trough member 14 is generally a planar shaped element. Sides 32 have a planar bottom portion 41, and an upstanding side portion 42. If desired, upstanding side portions 42 can be separate side elements mounted to planar bottom portion 41, such as with a snap mount. U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,875 discloses various arrangements including separate side elements. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,875 is hereby incorporated by reference.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, longitudinal trough member 14 defines a bottom 56 and upstanding side walls 58 for holding cables within an interior. Sufficient numbers of longitudinal trough members 14 are included in system 10 to define the appropriate cable routing pathways. Cross components 18 and Tee components 20 allow for side exits in a horizontal direction from the longitudinal pathways defined by longitudinal trough members 14. Couplers 16 join longitudinal trough members 14 to cross components 18 and Tee components 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Elbows 22 can also be used to change the cable pathway direction between two longitudinal trough members 14, or between a longitudinal trough member 14 and one of the cross components 18 or Tee components 20.

Now with reference to FIG. 6, coupler 16 includes at least one locking element 62 for mating with an attachment member 52 of longitudinal trough member 14. Further details of locking of coupler 16 to longitudinal trough member 14 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,719, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Other couplers can be used such as the couplers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,781, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The couplers of U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,781 use fasteners to mount the system components. Still further couplers usable in system 10 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,678 and 5,316,243, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. The system components matable with couplers 16 or other couplers may need appropriately configured mating structures, or be capable of attachment by other means to the couplers, such as by springs or fasteners, as in the prior noted patents.

Coupler 16 also includes projections 64 on both ends 66 for receipt in pockets 54 of longitudinal trough members 14. Coupler defines a bottom 68 and upstanding side walls 70 for holding cables within an interior.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-19, further features of cross component 18 are shown. Cross component 18 includes a base 82, four upstanding side walls 84, and four ends 86. Ends are connectable to couplers 16. Base 82 and side walls 84 define cable pathways across cross component 18. Side walls 84 have a convexly curved shape to provide bend radius protection for the cables that may bend around within cross component 18 from one end 86 to an adjacent end 86. Ends 86 are mountable to couplers 16, or other couplers configured to lock to cross component 18.

Cross component 18 is preferably assembled from separate parts or sections 88. A mating arrangement 90 connects the sections 88 together. Each section 88 includes edges 92, 94, 96, 98, a base 100, and one side wall 84. Mating arrangement 90 mates edges 92 to edges 94 of adjacent sections 88. Edges 96, 98 form ends 86. In the illustrated embodiment, cross component 18 is made from four identical sections 88. One advantage of such a construction is that the mold for making component 18 out of moldable materials does not have to be as large as the mold would need to be to mold component 18 as a single integral part.

Mating arrangement 90 includes a shoulder 102 on edge 92, and a flexible tab 110 on edge 94. Tab 110 includes an edge surface 112 which engages shoulder 102. Tab 110 also includes a ramp 114 for allowing tab 110 to clear shoulder 102, so edge surface 112 can engage shoulder 102. Preferably, a plurality of mating shoulders 102 and tabs 110 are provided along edges 92, 94, respectively. A u-shaped projection 116 surrounds tab 110. An enclosure 104 on edge 92 surrounds projection 116 when mated. To mount one section 88 to another section 88, edge 94 is positioned vertically above edge 92. Tabs 110 and projections 116 enter enclosure 104, until edge 112 engages shoulder 102. In one method of assembly, two sections are mated together, and two further sections are mated together, then the two mated portions are mated together by rotating the two mated portions so that the respective shoulders 102 and tabs 110 are mated between the two mated portions.

Referring now to FIGS. 20-24, Tee component 20 is formed from two sections 88 as described above, and a longitudinal section 150. Sections 88 snap together as noted above. Sections 88 snap to longitudinal section 150 with a mating arrangement 152, including flexible tabs 110 along edge portion 192, and shoulders 102 along edge portion 194, of the types as noted above. The mated sections 88 are rotated relative to longitudinal section 150 in order for the shoulders 102 and tabs 110 to be mated. With this construction, sections 88 can be used to assemble cross component 18 or Tee component 20. Tee component 20 has three ends, ends 86 of the type noted above, and opposite ends 154, all of which are mountable to couplers 16, or other couplers configured to lock to Tee component 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 25-27, elbow component 22 is shown in further detail. Elbow component 22 includes a base 200, and upstanding inner side wall 202 and outer side wall 204. Edges 212 and 214 connect to couplers 16. Edges 212 and 214 are at an angle to one another, such as at an angle of about 45 degrees. Such a construction allows for a change of direction of the cable pathway between components connected at each end. Two can be used for a 90 degree elbow. In the illustrated embodiment, curved guide walls or fins 206, 208, 210 are positioned in the interior of elbow to help guide the cables and help keep the cables from bunching up against inner side wall 202.

Referring now to FIG. 28, reducer component 24 is shown reducing the width of the lateral trough section pathway from one dimension W1 to a smaller dimension W2. End 220 is at the wider dimension W1, such as 24 inches, and opposite end 222 is at the narrower dimension W2, such as 12 inches. Reducer component 24 is mountable to couplers 16, or other couplers configured to lock to cross component 18.

Referring now to FIG. 29, and alternative embodiment of a coupler 260 is shown with guide tabs 262 protruding from projections 64. Guide tabs 262 assist with locating projections 62 in the pockets of longitudinal trough members 14 during assembly of the system.

Referring now to FIGS. 30-34, an alternative embodiment of a coupler 360 is shown. Coupler 360 is provided in two sections 362, 364, which are preferably identical. A mating arrangement 370 mounts the two sections 362, 364 together. One preferred embodiment of mating arrangement 370 includes snaps. Each section 362, 364 includes first and second walls 372, 374 offset from one another. First wall 372 includes first tabs 380 with shoulders 382, and an aperture 384. Second wall 374 includes second tabs 390 with shoulders 392, and an aperture 394. The first tabs 380 of each wall 372 fit into the aperture 384 of the other wall 372 of the other section. The second tabs 390 of each wall 374 fit into the aperture 394 of the other wall 374 of the other section. Further cutouts 396, 398 are also matable together when mounting the sections together. By making the coupler in two sections, a less costly mold is needed for making coupling 360 from moldable materials.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. A method of assembling a component in a cable routing system, the method comprising: providing a first component including a first base element and at least one first upstanding side extending vertically above the first base element, the first base element including a first mating edge with a first portion having at least one first socket and a second portion having at least one first snap; providing a second component including a second base element and at least one second upstanding side extending vertically above the second base element, the second base element including a second mating edge with a first portion having at least one second socket and a second portion having at least one second snap; positioning the first snap of the first component above the second socket of the second component, and the second snap of the second component above the first socket of the first component; and rotating the first component relative to the second component about an axis of the first component to mate the first snap to the second socket and the second snap to the first socket to form the component, wherein the component includes a first cable pathway extending from a first end to a second end of the component, and the component includes a second cable pathway extending transversely relative to the first cable pathway.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first component includes a plurality of first snaps and first sockets, and the second component includes a plurality of second snaps and second sockets.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the first component by: providing a first quarter component including a first quarter base element and at least one first quarter upstanding side extending vertically above the first quarter base element, the first quarter base element including a first quarter mating edge with a plurality of first quarter sockets; providing a second quarter component including a second quarter base element and at least one second quarter upstanding side extending vertically above the second quarter base element, the second quarter base element including a second quarter mating edge with a plurality of second quarter snaps; positioning the second quarter snaps of the second quarter component above the first quarter sockets of the first quarter component; and moving the second quarter component vertically relative to the first quarter component to form the first component.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first component is a longitudinal section.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the component is a Tee component.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the component is a cross component.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first snaps of the first component include tabs that engage the second sockets of the second component.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first component is identical to the second component. 